Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-05-25

ALI GQe afternoon TWO SeCClOuS OF the
Howitzers, with two pieces, fired a gun
every fifteen minutes on the Square. From
the time the procession left the Capitol I'M
til it reached the cemetery gun was fired
every two minutes.
DEATH OF EX-GOV. SMITH.
AWAY AT THE AGE OF NINETY.
SKETCH OF HIS CARRER--HIa BIRTHPLACE
AND EARLY LIF Fat THE BAR, IN THE
LEGISLATURE, IN CONGRESS, AND TWICE
GOVERNOR OF VIReINIA-HIs POWER
OVER THE MASSES.
WRITTEN FOR THE WING.
The golden chain of Virginia's represent
alive men which connects the past with the
present time is growing shorter every day.
One by one the links have dropped out,
until now scarcely single one remains
We have now the melancholy duty to per-
form of recording the loss of one who was
perhaps the most shining and prominent
link of this glorious group of Virginia's
w rthies in this generation.
EX-GOVERNOR WILLIAM SMITH.
of Fauquier, is no more. He departed this
life, at his residence in Warrenton, on the
18th of May, 1887, at the ripe old age OF
ninety years. He was born in the county
of King George in 1897, reared to manhood
in that county, but soon after receiving his
license to practice law, he removed to the
county of Culpeper, where he pursued his
profession in addition to other occupations
for many years, until about thirty years
ago, removed to Warrenton, where he has
ever since resided, with the exception of q
few years spent in California. He married
in early life daughter of Col. William
Boil, of Culpeper, and reared q family Of
five sons and enc daughter, only two Of
whom have survived him. His eldest son,
William, was an officer of the United States
Navy, and was lost at sea in 1885, in the
Pacific ocean, between Sau Francisco and
the Sandwich Islands. His second son, ].
Caleb, became judge in California, and
was prominent man III that State for
several years. l. Auetin Smith was a
lawyer, and died of wounds received in
battle during the war. Col. Peter Bell
Smith, who was his fathers private score
tary during his second term as Governor,
, died in Richmond, and lies in Hollywood
His only living son, Col. Thomas Smith, is
| a lawyer, and was prominent member of
| the Virginia Legislature, ana is nov United
States District Attorney in New Mexico.
1t will be seen from the succe ssful career
of his boys, that their father must have in
| stilled into their youthful minds some of
| those qualities Of mental activity and phys
ical energy which he possessed in as high
degree as have ever known in any man
whose fame and acts have made their
possessor prominent in the world. VIM.
Smith, in his early manhood, was fairly
successful at the bar, and had he chosen to
have given bis whole unremitted attention
to his profession of the law, have no doubt
he would have reached eminence as a law
yer. He had qualities of mental discrim
nation, indefatigable energy and perssver-
ance. fine address and very great forensic
power and be eyinced his ability to contend
successfully at the bar against such men as
Judge John Scott, John Shackleford, Johu
S. Pendeton, Robert E. Scott, Sam. Chill
ton, and others, who adorned the bar OF
| Culpeper and Fauquier, and were forever
worthy of any mans steel. But Gov.
Smiths inclination led him into the stormy
field of politics, which was, perhaps, better
suited to the energetic activity of his mind;
and upon that theatre he had the oppor-
tunity to disEiay his highest powers. His
political career vas euninently successful.
he was elected to the Legislature many
times, 60 tie Congress of the United States,
to the Governorship twice-the only man
except Patrick Henry SO distinguished in
all the annals of Virginia. Indeed, so
bland and insinuating was his demeanor,
| and so popular and powerful were his
speeSLeg on the stump in his canvass, that
he was hardly syer beaten in popular
election.
I recollect that after his return from Cali
! fornia he arrived in Fauquier just before the
| canvass for the election of a member of the
House of Representatives from the Eighth
district. John Willis, OF Grange, James
Barbour, of Culpeper, General Hunton aqd
others, of Fauquier, Frank Smith, of
Alexandria, and other younger Democrats
| were candidates For the nomination, all of
whom urged against the G0Vernor that he
was Californian, and the people ought not
to select him I'd their candidate, but the
| Governor took the stuHp against the
tremendous odds, and his old constitusEts
| could not withstand the power and influence
of his eloquent voice, and they elected him
to Congress against such tremendous OPP
position. In 1915 he was candidate for
the United States Senate before the Legis
lature of Virginia, but he was defeated By
Judge Penny of Shenandoah. Upon
that occasion, John Hampden Peasants, in
the Wing, thus speaks of him, which from
8 political enemy of such distinction, is the
highest compliment IT, could be paid to
any man:
"The man does not breathe to whom its
party in Virginia owes the heavy debt it
does to Mr.. Smith, OF Culpeper. In 1910
and 1914 no one of them fought tins battle
with so determined an energy and through
out SO extensive range of country. We
dreaded the harm that Smith could infict
upon the Wing party by his energy and
great talents more than all the silk-st0ck-
ing orators from the towns put together.
The iesnit, NO believe, justified our fear
and our sagacity. Erona Gulpeper to the
Ohio, from Halifax to King and Queen,
Smith was omnipresent and welding more
influence than all the successful orators
united. We speak not this in compliment.
We speak what we do know. We feel
rather relieved that this championships
''Smith Of the wynd''-this fighting Smith
is not to be sent to make head against the
Wings in the Senate, and that the mantle
is to devolvc upon one less uncompromisiug,
more conciliatory, tractable and manage
able. We can well imagine how tho friends
Of such a man, strong and ardent, as he is
strong and ardent in all his relations, Elust
feel rather taken aback at the preference
given to an inferior over him."
The Fredericksburg Recorder Demo
CRATIC, then conducted by a very able ed-
tor, thus speaks in his behalf for the Sen
atorship: civilian Smith is our man; and
in behalf of the thousands Of Democrats in
this region, who have for years witnessed
his noble, gallant, manly. and sacrificing
course, we call upon the Democratic party
in the Legislature to be just. No man in
Virginia can present stronger claims than
Mr. Smith for the Senatorial office, we care
not whether talents, integrity, or hard SER
vice, shall constitute the obligation. he is
politician who can neither be corrupted
nor coerced. His metal has often been
proved. and his friends may justly boast of
his valor, his prowess, and his success. In
deed, his enemies, or his rivals, if he has
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